Belonging

Renewing my membership in the Public Diplomacy Council just got easier.

Responding to our President’s reminder message last Sunday, I followed his link to our Membership page, clicked on its “Add to Cart” button, and paid my 2019 annual dues with my Amex card in about 90 seconds. (Just got the receipt via email.)

Council members can now pay their dues the same way, thanks to a new merchant account acquired by our Executive Director Bob Heath. The traditional check and mail option still works, of course.

At a First Monday Forum, Executive Director Bob Heath chats with two attendees.

If you’re not a member, joining is easier too. For full-time public diplomacy staffers who want to become associate members, the application process has been streamlined under the guidance of Ambassador Brian Carlson, our membership chair. It’s all on that same page.

Why join? Or if you’re already a member, why renew? Just take a look at our portfolio of activities.

Our monthly First Monday Forumhas become a networking occasion as well as a place to learn about the latest trends in PD and international broadcasting.

Lunch and Learnpanels, organized and attended by full-time PD staffers, address career development and professional issues.

We also mentora graduate-student Fellow, mid-career Foreign Service Officers and junior diplomats from Afghanistan thanks to partnerships with sponsoring organizations.

Our Outreach Working Group is watching developments in Congress that may affect public diplomacy.

The Council welcomes new members. If you’re working full-time on public diplomacy or international broadcasting, apply now for associate membership. If you’re working in the field outside the U.S. Government, or if you’re a retired diplomat or civil servant, write to publicdiplomacycouncil@gmail.org. You may be a candidate for full membership.

Joe B. Johnson consults on government communication and technology after a career in the United States Foreign Service. He is an instructor for the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, where he teaches strategic planning for public diplomacy. Read More

It was very easy to renew my membership via the website! Although I have moved to the great state of Washington, I want to continue supporting the work of the Public Diplomacy Council in 2019 – consider me to be your NW rep!